Block-signal protective device



- June 24, 1924. 1,498,784

J. A. coNToIs BLOCK SIGNAL PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed Aug. 15 1923 2'77 val-afar:

Patented June 24, 119245..

entree stares FATE BLOCK-SIGNAL PROTECTIVE nnvien.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OSEPH A. GONTOIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Britain, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Block-Signal Protective Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in block signal protective devices for use in connection with a block signal system on railroads and for the purpose of preventing the entry of a locomotive into a particular block after the signal has been set against the same, and the object of my improvement is to provide means that are operative in cooperation with the air brake system to automatically effect the stopping of the locomotive after passing such a signal that .is set against the same, and which means comprise power driven control mechanism for effecting a graduate reduction of speed up to the full stop and thus avoiding a relatively quick and sudden complete stoppage and the violent and unpleasant sensations and possible material damage consequent upon such quick action.

In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is an elevational and essentially diagrammatic view of my improved block signal protective device in the set position and with the parts in position for being tripped, a part of the cab structure of the locomotive being shown.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the tripping device and adjacent parts in the position immediately after being tripped.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the tripping lever, being on an enlarged scale.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the cam for effecting the setting of the handle for the air valve of the air brake system, the shaft being shown in section.

My improved block signal protective device comprises a semaphore signal structure 10 that is constructed and arranged in part so as to operate like semaphore signals that are in common use and that has also incorporated in its structure a tripping device that isadapted to cooperate with tripping mechanism on the locomotive for efiecting the starting of a motor 11. The operation of said motor 11 serves to open a cook 12 that itself is incorporated in a pipe or con- Serial No. 657,607.

duit 13 that is part of the system for controlling the air-brakes.

The motor 11, as shown, is an electric motor that is supplied with current by means of the leads 29 and the motor shaft is operatively connected by means of gearing 15 with a countershaft 16, the gearing operat ing to effect a suitable reduction in speed.

Mounted on' the counter-shaft 16 is a'cam 17 that cooperates with a radial handle 18 on the plug member of the cook 12 for effecting the positioning thereof so as to open the said cock 12 and thereby operate the air brake system.

The cam 17 is a plate-like form with the contact portion at the peripheral edge and the details thereof are adapted to operate so that beginning with the cock 12 in the closed position an appreciable angular movement at the beginning of rotation will serve only to effect a gradual opening of the cock to the substantially half-open position. Then for a short movement there will be a riding effect, involving no change in the position'of the cock, and this will be followed by what may be termed the peak, involving full opening. Between the peak and the starting position the cam is shaped so as to provide a guiding eflelgt for permitting the fully closing of the coc Considering the cam 17 in detail, it is mounted on the counter-shaft 16 by means of the opening 20, and is keyed thereon.

The peripheral bearing edge is provided with a slight indentation 21 which corresponds to the initial position, with the cock 12 fully closed. To one side of the starting indentation 21 and for approximately a quarter-turn is a zone 22 involving a gradual rise for effecting the half-opening of the cock. Next comes the riding zone 28, involving no change, and this is followed by the point-like peak 24- for effecting the full-opening, and which may correspond to approximately a two-thirds turning movement. The return zone 25 is intermediate the peak 24- and the starting recess 21. p

' The motor starting means may be, as shown, in the form of an electric-switch 26 that has a moving member 27 that operates by a reciprocating movement and is preferably positioned so as to be operated vertically and with the closing of the electric circuit as represented by the mains 28 and the motor leads 29 corresponding to the downward or lowermost position thereof.

The moving member 2'? is thus adapted to be attached to the lower end of a rod 30 that is supported for vertical sliding movement in any proper manner, as by means of guideblocks 31. A coil spring 32 tends to thrust the rod 30 downwardly to the circuit-closing position. a The rod 30 projects upwardly through the roof 33 of the cab of the locomotive and has at its upper end ashort laterally-directed overhanging branch 34 that serves as the tripping-nose arm, the latter being provided on its lower face with a downwardly projecting stub or pin 35 that operates as thetripping nose.

The semaphore structure 10 comprises post 36 that serves to operatively support a swinging arm structure 3'? through the me dium of a pivotal pin 38, said carrying a display device 39 of any usual and. approved form. A counter-weight 40 may be provided on the rear or outer end portion 41 of the swinging arm structure 37 and at the inner side of the post 36 there may be provided a bracket-like guide structure 42. Adjacent the free end portion 43 ofthe swinging iarm structure 37 is a pendant branch 44 and intermediate said free end portion 43 and the body portion is a connecting intermediate part 45 that serves to position the pendant branch appreciably below the elevation. of the pivotal pin 38 of the semaphore struc ture 10.

Said pendant branch 44 serves as a trip ping arm and in the position for use hangs downwardly in some part of the space immediately over some part of the locomotive as it travels along the rails and is positioned in the path of a cooperating arm 46 that is supported by the locomotive.

Said cooperating arm 46 is part of a swinging member 47 that is supported for swingin to a limited extent back and forth in a horizontal plane.

Said swinging member 47 operates as an intermediate member between the pendant arm 44 and the nose 35.

As shown, said swinging or intermediate member 4'7 is operatively supported on a platform 48 by means of a pivotal pin 49, the cooperating arm 46 being on one side of the pivot 49 and the arm 50 on the opposite side thereof serving to cooperate with the nose Springs 51 01 any suitable form serve'to generally position the swinging member 47.

More positive means for positioning the swlnging member 47, particularly under the set condition, previous to the tripping, are provided in the means for cooperating with the nose 35 and which comprise siniplv a depression or notch 52 that serves as seat for receivingand also generally guiding the said nose 35 and the branch 34 by which it supported The holding effect on the nose 35, as described, is simply in the form of a tric tional hold that is adapted to be released responsive to a relatively forcible movemen of the swinging member 4? such as tollo the contacting of the cooperating 14s with the pendant arm 44.

Vi hen the nose is trippec in the main described the rod 30 is dropped by the spring and the electric switch 26 is closed, sulting in starting the motor. The latter then moves the cam 17 so that the air-cocl l is operated so as to set the brakes the operation being controlled so as to avoid instantaneous operation of the brakes.

A stop-pin 52 in the bracket-structure 49 serves to limit the downward movement or the swinging arm structure 37 to the proper position for permitting the pendant branch 4-4 thereof to cooperate with the laterally directed cooperating arm portion 46 of the swinging member 47 in the manner described.

Various changes may be made from the particular arrangement shown and described. Thus in some cases an air motor may be used instead of the electric motor. the air supply therefor being taken from the same source as that for the brakes.

l claim as my invention 1. A block signal protective device comprising in combination a semaphore signal structure having a signal arm that is adapt ed to overhang the path of a locomotive and has a pendant tripping arm, the locomotive being provided with an air-brake system having a control-cock, tripping mechanism on the locomotive for cooperating with said pendant tripping arm, a motor and control means therefor operated by said tripping mechanism, and means for operating said cock operated by said motor, said last named means comprising cam device for effecting graduated movement in operating said cock, said tripping mechanism comprising an electric switch and a horizontally positioned swinging member, said swinging member having an arm for cooperating with said pendant tripping arm, a vertically reciprocating rod structure serving as means for operating said switch and having spring means tending to effect a downward move ment of said rod structure, and said swingingmember having a second arm for cooperating with said rod structure to hold the same in elevated position in opposition to said spring means.

2. In a block signal protective device for use with a locomotive having an air brake and with a semaphore structure, a motor for operating said brake, a vertically reciprocating motor control device, a swing ing member pivotally supported by said locomotive and having oppositely directed motor control device, and means for droparms one of said arms cooperating with said ping said motor control device responsive semaphore structure for effecting a lateral to such lateral movement of the swinging 1o movement of said swinging member, said member, involving disengagement of said 5 motor control device having a branch for branch from the cooperating arm.

cooperating With the other of said arms for providing normal supporting means for said JOSEPH A. CONTOIS. 

